Kiwi plant named &#39;Skelton A16&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct kiwi plant of the species  Actinidia chinensis  is described. The cultivar results from a controlled pollination using a  A. chinensis  selection ‘ALC13’ and a female  A. chinensis  selection ‘A124.’ Both named parents (‘ALC13’ and ‘A124’) are unpatented cultivars. The new cultivar is distinguished by its small fruit size, slightly depressed to slightly blunt protruding stylar end, and the medium to early harvest date of the fruit in early April.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Kiwi plants in cultivation are mainly varieties of A. deliciosa, particularly ‘Hayward’ although some A. chinensis and A. arguta varieties are grown. A. deliciosa and A. chinensis are closely related and varieties of both types have large fruit (about 100 g) with hair on the skin. The main varieties in New Zealand are ‘Hayward’ (A. deliciosa) and ‘Hort16A’ (A. chinensis). Fruit are usually cut and eaten with a spoon.

All Actinidia species are dioecious, so female varieties have to be interplanted with male pollinizers to ensure fruit production.

A. chinensis vines are deciduous and tend to grow vigorously in spring and summer when rapidly-growing shoots can intertwine and tangle if not managed. Vines do best in a mild warm-temperate climate without late spring or early autumn frosts. They produce consistently heavy crops when grown in well-drained fertile soils and given regular irrigation in dry spells.

A. chinensis flowers in late September to late October in New Zealand. Harvest of A. chinensis fruit occurs from late February to late June in New Zealand depending on the selection and location of plantings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinctive kiwifruit variety having a slightly depressed, sunken end to slightly blunt protruding stylar end fruit shape with a harvest date of early April. This new variety is designated ‘Skelton A16’ and is derived from seed resulting from controlled pollination of the Actinidia chinensis varieties ALC13 (male) and A124 (female).

Neither of the parents are registered with the Plant Variety Rights Office in New Zealand or patented. The parent plants are part of an ongoing breeding program established in New Zealand in 1975.

This new variety was created during the course of a planned plant-breeding program, which was initiated in Waiuku, New Zealand in 1994 and approximately 300 seedlings were raised at Rangiriri, New Zealand. ‘Skelton A16’ first flowered in October 1998 and fruit were assessed in April 1999. Following fruit assessment, ‘Skelton A16’ was grafted onto six Actinidia deliciosa seedling rootstocks and onto six Actinidia chinensis rootstocks. The unique characteristics of ‘Skelton A16’ continued and the asexually reproduced plants were true to type.

The new variety can be asexually reproduced as cuttings or by grafting or budding on to seedling or cutting-grown rootstocks of A. deliciosa or A. chinensis, or by striking cuttings, or by tissue culture. Trial plantings of grafted plants established in Rangiriri, New Zealand in 1999 have shown that the unique combination of characters come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows typical fruit of the new variety in the studio;

FIG. 2 shows a close up of the fruit and foliage on the vine;

FIG. 3 shows typical fruit of the new variety in the orchard;

FIG. 4 shows typical fruit of the new variety in cross-section;

FIG. 5 shows typical fruit of the parent female A124 species in the studio and in cross-section;

FIG. 6 shows typical fruit of the new variety in the studio compared with other varieties, in order: ‘A1 ;’ ‘Skelton A19;’ ‘Skelton A16;’ and ‘Skelton X78;’ and

FIG. 7 shows typical fruit of the new variety in the studio compared with other varieties in cross-section, in order: ‘A1;’ ‘Skelton A16;’ ‘Skelton A19;’ and ‘Skelton X78.’

COMPARISON TO CLOSEST VARIETY

The distinctive characteristics of ‘Skelton A16’ were first observed with the first fruit maturing in April 1999. The distinctive characteristics of this new Kiwi variety, described in detail below and shown in the accompanying photographs, were observed in April 2006 at Rangiriri, New Zealand. The age of the plants was approximately seven years from grafting onto seedling rootstocks.

Comparison with the similar variety ‘HORT16A’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,066) shows that ‘Skelton A16’ may be distinguished as follows in Table 1: Comparison With Similar Variety. Observations made under New Zealand Growing Conditions Characteristic HORT16A Skelton A16 Fruit: Harvest Date Early May Early April Fruit: Color of Ripe Pericarp Medium yellow Dark yellow (2B)* (12C/12B)* Fruit: Skin Color Yellow-brown Brown Fruit: Mean Fresh Weight 43-176 grams 80-95 grams Fruit: Average Length 79.1 mm 60 mm Fruit: Average Width 51.1 mm 48 mm Fruit: Width/Length Ratio 0.65 0.8 Fruit: Mean Dry Matter at Harvest 18% 15-19% Fruit: Sweetness (Brix) at maturity 15.6% 17.5% for consumption Fruit: General Shape Ovoid Ovoid Fruit: Shape at Stylar End Strongly blunt Slightly depressed protruding to slightly blunt protruding *Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart 2001

The most striking difference between ‘Skelton A16’ and ‘HORT16A’ is that of flowering and harvest times. ‘Skelton A16’ ovoid fruit have slightly depressed to slightly blunt protruding stylar end, whereas ‘HORT16A’ are ovoid with a strongly protruding blunt stylar end. The harvest date of ‘Skelton A16’ is in early April, a good two-four weeks prior to the harvest date of early May for ‘HORT16A.’ 

1. A new and distinct kiwi plant of the species A. chinensis substantially as herein described and illustrated. 